Sites identified for 17,500 new homes in new plan

Sites for 17,500 new homes, including green belt land, have been identified in part of Kent to meet increased government housing targets.

Sevenoaks District Council (SDC) leaders said they had "no choice" but to produce a new Local Plan, while critics warned the area risked becoming a "building site".

The local authority has also identified sites for new homes in the green belt, which covers more than 90% of the district.

As a result, the council must meet a revised annual target of 1,149 homes, up 63% from 704, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Nigel Williams, cabinet member for development at SDC, said: "We have no choice but to produce a new Local Plan to meet the government's housing target.

He said that shifting rules during consultation had made sites near transport links more likely to be included, alongside the reclassification of parts of the green belt as "grey belt" for development.

The largest proposed site is a 2,600-home development at Pedham Place, which the council said was not classed as grey belt.

Plans for a 28,000-seat stadium there have been dropped over infrastructure concerns.

Additional sites included 810 homes at Broke Hill Golf Course, 228 at Brittain's Lane and 300 homes through the redevelopment of a building in London Road.

However, a recent consultation revealed that 71% of more than 5,000 respondents did not support the proposals.

Critics, including parish and opposition councillors, said that residents' views had been "overlooked" and warned of environmental damage.

The plan has entered its final consultation stage and is expected to be submitted for inspection later this year, with the aim to be adopted in 2027.

It will guide development in the district until 2042.

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